Getting Gum Disease Treatment Could Improve Your Overall Health
Posted on 2/8/2021 by Office |
 If you have been diagnosed with gum disease and have other health conditions, getting treatment for the disease can also improve your overall health—the following information details how this happens.
Gum Disease Is Linked to Other Medical Conditions
According to medical and dental research studies, gum disease is often linked to other medical conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, or auto-immune disorders. Because a gum infection causes an imbalance in the system, other parts of the body can be affected as well.
The Gum Disease Connection
The link between gum disease and other ailments results from the harmful bacteria that causes the disease and inflammation. Inflammation takes place as a protective response to pathogens or irritants. However, if this response is continual, tissue and organ damage can occur. Therefore, gum disease can have a cascade effect that leads to a variety of illnesses. Also, as noted, the connection between heart disease and periodontitis is often linked to the bacteria that lead to a gum infection. The bacteria responsible for a gum infection can also enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body.
Often, the germs travel to distant destinations, such as the heart, where they cause inflammation, which, in turn, damages the heart. Researchers have shown that gingivalis, the pathogen that causes gum infections, is the most commonly found bacteria in the coronary artery. While periodontitis and cancer do not appear to have much of a link, researchers have found that cancer and gum disease are indeed related. For example, one study involving 68,000 participants found a connection between gum disease and pancreatic cancer.
If you have your gum disease treated, it can also relieve the symptoms or risks associated with other diseases. Therefore, you should make your dental health a priority. By treating gum disease and practicing good dental care, you can improve your health overall. Contact us today for a dental cleaning and exam.
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